A rare and controversial dismissal in Grenada rewrote West Indies cricket history as Deandra Dottin became the first Caribbean player ruled out for obstructing the field in an international match.
West Indies legend Deandra Dottin etched her name into the record books for an unusual reason during the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Grenada on March 22. In a dramatic moment at the St. George’s National Cricket Stadium, Dottin became the first West Indies international cricketer to be dismissed for interference with the field.
Chasing a competitive target of 209, West Indies were 89 for 4 in 24.1 overs when Dottin walked in at number six. Known for her power hitting and match turning abilities, she was expected to anchor the innings. The turning point arrived in the 30th over when Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapattu delivered a wide ball that evaded Dottin’s attempted sweep. The ball struck the wicketkeeper and rebounded toward the pitch.
In a split second decision, Dottin handled the returning ball once before catching it with her left hand as the wicketkeeper advanced. The Sri Lankan players immediately appealed, and the on field umpire ruled her out for obstruction of the field. The rare dismissal stunned spectators and shifted momentum decisively.
Glasgow mounted a resilient half century in response, but Dottin’s wicket proved costly as West Indies fell short by 14 runs in a tense finish.
What do the laws say about interference with the field?
Article 37.1.2 explains that a batsman cannot use the hand other than the bat to deliberately touch the ball.
“Except in the circumstances of Article 37.2, if, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he deliberately strikes the ball with a hand other than that in which he is holding the bat, the batsman is out for obstruction of the field. This applies whether it is the first stroke or the second or subsequent strokes. The act of receiving the ball extends to playing the ball and striking it more than once in order to protect his wicket.”
Article 37.3.1 deals with batsmen preventing fielders from taking a catch.
“If the ball is not a no-ball, the batsman shall prevent the batsman from being out by obstructing or distracting the field.”
Dottin became the sixth player dismissed in this manner in international cricket. Overall, 16 cricketers have been ruled out for obstruction of the field in international matches. She is now the first West Indies player, male or female, to face this rare cricket dismissal.
